One Health National Antimicrobial Use Surveillance System

1. About DGDA and Their Main Functions

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) is the national regulatory authority for medicines and medical products in Bangladesh, operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). As the principal drug regulatory body, the DGDA is entrusted with ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of all pharmaceutical products, vaccines, medical devices, and traditional medicines available in the country. Its comprehensive regulatory scope covers every stage of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle—from importation, manufacturing, and storage to distribution, sale, pricing, and export.

In alignment with its mandate, the DGDA regulates a vast and diverse pharmaceutical sector, which currently includes 926 licensed manufacturing companies—comprising 317 Allopathic, 208 Ayurvedic, 286 Unani, 44 Herbal, and 71 Homeopathic firms. This expansive oversight also extends to traditional systems of medicine, reinforcing the DGDA’s role as a guardian of both modern and indigenous healthcare solutions.

The DGDA is empowered by the Government of Bangladesh to issue all relevant licenses associated with pharmaceutical operations. To facilitate regulatory enforcement nationwide, the Directorate maintains 55 district offices, where designated officers function as Drug Inspectors. These inspectors assist in implementing drug laws and regulations at the local level, ensuring adherence to prescribed safety and quality standards.

Additionally, the DGDA is supported by a range of expert advisory committees, including the Drug Control Committee (DCC), Standing Committee for Import of Pharmaceuticals, and the Pricing Committee, among others. These bodies provide strategic guidance on licensing, market authorization, pricing, and broader policy matters. Through these mechanisms, the DGDA actively contributes to public health protection, regulatory harmonization, and global health initiatives.

Currently, the DGDA is embarking on a significant digital transformation journey, aimed at modernizing its regulatory functions and enhancing transparency, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making across the pharmaceutical landscape. This digitalization effort is expected to be a cornerstone in advancing Bangladesh’s national health objectives and aligning with international best practices in drug regulation.

2. About the OHASS-BD Portal

The One Health Antimicrobial Use Surveillance System in Bangladesh (OHASS-BD) is a digital platform designed to collect, validate, and analyze national antimicrobial use (AMU) data. Developed under DGDA’s leadership, the system aims to strengthen AMR containment efforts by providing an integrated, user-friendly tool for tracking pharmaceutical usage across healthcare, veterinary, and agricultural sectors.

This portal supports multilingual access, complies with both national regulations and international surveillance standards, and ensures secure and standardized data flows from stakeholders to DGDA.

3. WHO Bangladesh’s Contribution

The development of the AMU Surveillance Portal is generously supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh, which has provided both technical and financial assistance to facilitate this national initiative. WHO’s involvement ensures that the platform aligns with the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) framework, promoting consistency in data collection and international comparability. Their contribution underscores the importance of global cooperation in strengthening surveillance capacity and combating AMR, reinforcing Bangladesh’s commitment to the One Health approach and sustainable health system development.

4. JBRSOFT Limited as Technical Partner

JBRSOFT Limited, a Bangladeshi software development and consulting firm, has been engaged as the technical partner for the AMU Surveillance Portal. With expertise in healthcare informatics, national-scale database systems, and digital transformation, JBRSOFT is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining both the web and mobile components of the portal. In collaboration with DGDA and WHO Bangladesh, the team ensures that the platform is secure, scalable, and tailored to the needs of key stakeholders. JBRSOFT is also tasked with user training, documentation, and providing long-term technical support to build local capacity and ensure sustainability.

5. Major Functionalities of the Platform

The AMU Surveillance Portal is being developed to function as a centralized, web and mobile-based platform, fully responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices (iOS and Android). Its core functionalities include structured data input forms for pharmaceutical consumption, real-time validation tools, automated analytical dashboards, and customizable reporting features. The platform supports tiered user roles, granting appropriate access to DGDA directors, national focal points, technical teams, and public health stakeholders. The assignment also covers pilot testing, iterative user feedback integration, installation, hosting, and full lifecycle maintenance. Comprehensive manuals and SOPs will be delivered to support ongoing operations and upgrades.

6. Conclusion: Benefits to Users

Once deployed, the AMU Surveillance Portal will offer substantial benefits to a wide range of users. For policymakers and DGDA officials, it will provide an authoritative, real-time source of AMU data to inform regulatory decisions. For pharmaceutical companies, it offers a standardized mechanism to report antimicrobial usage data. Researchers and public health professionals will gain access to structured insights that support surveillance and AMR intervention strategies. Ultimately, the platform will enhance national capacity to combat AMR, facilitate evidence-based planning, and foster intersectoral collaboration under the One Health framework, thereby strengthening the health system of Bangladesh.